http://www.wardrobe.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/patrol/safetypatrol.html

As a resident of Whitley bay...Tyneside, UK
this is the first I have heard of this!!!
At first I thought ' Is this for real?'

then I checked the date: April the 1st?

No, it's not that...

here is the story from my local paper

*Note: $=poundsign-I have no poundsign on my computer keyboard!

April 22nd

The battle to beat crime will see public patrol streets

New safety patrols are being set up on Whitley Bay by residents for residents.
The new scheme, called Safety Patrol, will see dedicated membersof thepublic patrolling a range of streets throughout the town as they look to work in partnership with the police and other agencies.
In what is believed to be the first of its kind in the country, residents are being offered the chance to pay a small contribution for the peace of mind that any disturbances they report to the patrol teams will be dealt with swiftly.
The Aim is to have two patrol men on bikes supported by a patrol van as the group patrols the streets between 7pm and 3am, reporting any incident of graffitti, litter and disturbance.

The first area the patrols
will cover is Woodburn Estate, Whitley Lodge and Briardene with Beaumont Park, Red House farm and the area next to Sainsburys next in line .
Bob Foreman, who has helped set up the patrol teams up with Mark Tully, said the aim was to give residents that exrta peace of mind.
They will provide rapid reaction support to report any criminal, offer first aid in advance of an ambulance, observe properties which have been left empty and provide regular reports to the police and council.
"We're the first ones in the country to do this as members of the public," Mr Foreman told the News Guardian. "We're trying to keep the area
clean and safe. The whole idea is to be high profile. They will look like security guards in lime green jackets with 'Safety Patrol', while the van will have checks around it so they look official."
"It is going to be there for the elderly as well as the young so we can help everybody."
Mr Foreman added the long term aim was to have patrols throughout the whole of the area while as it was a community sceme, they were keen to work with the locak community, such as providing equipment for schools.
Residents are being asked to pay $2.95 a week to sign up for the scheme with mr Foreman saying the group will only respond to those people who are members.
The patrol group is also looking for more employees, over the age of 25 to help patrol the streets.
Anyone who wants more information about Safety Patrol contact Mr Foreman on (0191) 2892491 or 07788 564 256.

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Aren't the police supposed to be doing this work?

Will these people receive proper training?

Who are these so-called 'members of the public'-
Bob Foreman & Mark Tully?

What is Safety Patrol Ltd.???

How can the Police justify working with a scheme that
charges and excludes the public?

How does this arrangement function?

Private police force?

Vigilante Group?

Money with menaces?

Protection racket?

What do you think?

If you can , ring the numbers on the story

contact Mr Foreman on (0191) 2892491 or 07788 564 256

or contact the story writer David Sedgwick,

who, in my opinion has written an peice of
advertising copy for this sceme...

and ask them

How this scheme is morally acceptable?

Are the Police breaking some kind of law by working with a money driven pay as you are 'protected'...?

Yours,
still in shock

and thanks for your time
Paul T Cobbin